Phase 3 Union urges gov't to evaluate 41,000 pending housing forms before new allocations

The Phase 3 Union of Hulhumale' has called on the government to halt allocations under its new “Housing for All” scheme until it completes the evaluation of applications submitted during the second round of the previous administration’s Binveriya and Gedhoruveriyaa housing programme.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Kendhoo MP and lawyer Ali Hussain, representing the union, said the former government had pledged to allocate flats to 9,000 applicants in the second round of the Binveriya and Gedhoruveriyaa scheme. He alleged that the current administration is attempting to relocate these 9,000 applicants, along with 41,000 others who submitted forms, to Rasmale’, an artificial island currently under reclamation.

Ali further claimed that the government awarded a USD 600 million contract for the Rasmale’ project despite a lower USD 400 million estimate from the state-owned MTCC, accusing the administration of exploiting the process for unlawful gain.

“These 50,000 families are people who applied for land or flats in the Male' area, whose forms were accepted, and who were eligible under the previous policy. So under what policy are they now being cast off to Gulhi beyond Male'?” he asked.

Ali stressed that the previous government had stipulated that applicants without housing in the Male' region would be eligible for flats within the city. He said the applications submitted under that policy remain unevaluated.

“We’re calling on this government not to burden the people again. Evaluate the second-round applications, over 41,000 forms, and deliver the flats and land as promised,” he said.

The current administration launched the “Housing for All” policy in mid-November, pledging to build 7,900 flats and allocate 15,000 plots of land. The policy includes provisions for:

• Facilitating home and land purchases for high-income earners  

• Providing affordable housing for middle-income families  

• Offering rent-to-own housing for those unable to purchase property  

• Allocating housing to families without shelter based on government assessments  

Eligibility under the new scheme includes residents of Male' and those who have lived in the city for at least 15 years. Land and flats will be distributed in both the Male' region and Rasmale’.